President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Mehmet Oz, a former star heart surgeon who is now a talk show personality and lifestyle expert, to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the enormous government health care organization that provides coverage to almost one-third of the American population.
Here is a look at a television physician who went on to become a politician and is currently appointed head of an organization that affects almost every American.
Who is Dr. Oz?
After receiving training as a cardiac surgeon, Oz became well-known on Oprah Winfrey’s popular daytime show before launching his own show, The Dr. Oz Show, in 2009.
Oz became well-known as a result of the 13-season show.
According to Pennsylvania’s online database, Oz’s physician license is still valid through the end of this year even though he ceased performing surgery in 2018.
Oz is a self-proclaimed wellness ambassador, a presidential appointee, an Emmy-winning TV program host, a radio talk show host, the author of New York Times bestsellers, and the head of a nationwide nonprofit organization that teaches teenagers about healthy lifestyle choices.
In addition, he assisted in saving a dying man at Newark Liberty International Airport and served as a guest host on Jeopardy!.
The son of a Turkish immigrant heart surgeon, Oz was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
As a college student, he played football at Harvard University and went to a private high school in Delaware. To keep his dual citizenship, he served in the Turkish army.
He became well-known as a surgeon, but he was also a very successful marketer.
On his show, Oz gave lifestyle and dietary advice, projecting an image of himself as a reliable physician who could communicate health issues in an interesting and approachable manner. However, his show frequently blurred the boundaries between advertising and medical advice, not telling his viewers how closely he collaborated with the businesses he pitched to.
He was mentioned in lawsuits alleging that he made false claims on the show and frequently advertised products with dubious medical value. A number of the enterprises he has endorsed are set up as multilevel marketing companies, and federal officials have frequently taken notice of their tactics.
Oz’s 2022 federal financial statement, which provides dollar amounts in ranges but not precise numbers, states that his net worth was between $100 million and $315 million.
He was a U.S. Senate candidate.
One of the most well-known contests of the 2022 midterm elections was Oz’s Republican run for the U.S. Senate. Oz campaigned in Pennsylvania, claiming ties to the state through his wife’s parents, despite having lived in New Jersey for a long time and working in New York City.
His campaign made extensive use of his fame. Its logo was identical to that of his television program. His topics are grounded in fact, or the doctor is based on his reputation as a TV doctor.
He gained Trump’s much-desired endorsement while competing in a crowded Republican primary.
Dr. Oz is particularly popular with women who seek his wisdom and advise. Over the years, I have witnessed this numerous times. When he endorsed Oz, Trump claimed that they knew him, trusted him, and believed in him.
Oz narrowly defeated McCormick in the primary by 951 votes, but he fell to Democrat John Fetterman in the general election after a legal battle that reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump and Oz have a lengthy personal history together.
In a 2022 interview, Oz told The Associated Press that he first met Trump in 2004 or 2005 when he invited Trump to host an event at his golf course for his children’s foundation. Trump concurred. Prior to Oz questioning Trump about his health during the 2016 presidential campaign, they only sometimes crossed paths at social gatherings.
Trump claimed that his wife, Melania Trump, was a huge fan of The Dr. Oz Show during his appearance on the show in 2016.
During his first term, Trump appointed Oz to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
He would be in charge of a huge organization.
Oz would be in charge of Medicare, Medicaid, children’s health insurance, and the Affordable Care Act, also referred to as Obamacare, if he were elected by the Senate to head CMS. More than 160 million individuals are covered by the programs, ranging from newborns to residents of nursing homes.
CMS also sets Medicare payment rates for physicians, hospitals, labs, and other service providers, which is a major factor in the $4.5 trillion national health care economy. Private insurers are based on government payment levels. The organization also establishes guidelines that control the activities of healthcare providers.
The agency employs over 6,000 people and has a budget of $1.1 trillion.
The Associated Press, 2024. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. It is prohibited to publish, broadcast, rewrite, or redistribute this content without authorization.
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